San Francisco Pride weekend kicks off with the Trans March
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Pride weekend in San Francisco was well underway Friday night. The Transgender March earlier this evening kicked off the festivities.
Tight security is expected at bars throughout the weekend. There's already some controversy with the weekend events after the Black Lives Matter group decided to pull out of the being grand marshals. They opposed the increased police presence because of security concerns.
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And this afternoon's Trans March had a rough start. It started with a loud group in the audience booing Mayor Ed Lee, Supervisor Scott Weiner and State Senator Mark Leno off the stage.
"I'm upset because I'm a trans woman who has a lot of trans friends who are homeless and I'm tired of people using our community as a prop," said activist Ashley Love.
Senator Mark Leno says there is a time and place for everything and now should be a time for unity.
"We may have disagreements with Ed Lee, I've got disagreement with Ed Lee, that's not the point. A mayor had never come to this event before he became mayor," Leno said.
But he couldn't get through the whole interview without getting heckled.
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The march finally started and it was one of the biggest turnouts ever.
Nick Marino, 14, marched with the support of three generations of his family.
"It's nice to have a family that supports you and like, everybody else here," Marino said.
With just two weeks since the Orlando massacre at a gay club, security has been a concern for San Francisco Pride. There is an increased police presence and clubs are doing thorough searches of every customer at the door.
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In honor of Orlando, a mural at the Lookout Bar is being auctioned off with all money going to the victim's relief fund. And with just two days until the San Francisco Pride Parade the floats are still under construction.
"It's all the finishing touches now, we got a bunch of people now just going from one float to the next adding a little sparkle here and a little touch of paint right there," said Stephani Mufson, a float builder.
All 29 floats are being custom built for Sunday's parade.
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The following streets will be closed:
Celebration Site Street Closures: FRIDAY, JUNE 24, through MONDAY, JUNE 27
Fulton between Hyde and Larkin Friday 9 AM through Monday 3 PM
Grove between Polk and Larkin Friday 9 AM through Monday 6 AM
UN Plaza Friday 9 AM through Monday 6AM
Dr. Carleton B. Goodlett between McAllister and Grove Friday 7 PM through Monday 6 AM
Grove between Hyde and Larkin Friday 8 PM through Monday 6 AM
Grove between Polk and Van Ness Friday 8 PM through Monday 6 AM
Larkin between McAllister and Market Friday 8 PM through Monday 6 AM
Lech Walesa between Polk and Van Ness Friday 8 PM through Monday 6 AM
Polk between Grove and Market Friday 8 PM through Monday 6 AM
McAllister between Van Ness and Hyde Saturday 12:01 AM through Monday 6 AM
Hyde between McAllister and Grove Saturday 5AM through Monday 6 AM
McAllister between Hyde and Leavenworth Saturday 5AM through Monday 6 AM
Continuum Place (all) Saturday 8 PM through Monday 6 AM
Elm between Polk and Van Ness Saturday 8 PM through Monday 6 AM
Golden Gate between Leavenworth and Van Ness Saturday 8 PM through Monday 6 AM
Hyde between Turk and McAllister Saturday 8 PM through Monday 6 AM
Larkin between Turk and McAllister Saturday 8 PM through Monday 6 AM
Polk between Turk and McAllister Saturday 8 PM through Monday 6 AM
Redwood between Polk and Van Ness Saturday 8 PM through Monday 6 AM
Parade Street Closures: SUNDAY, JUNE 25th, 10:00AM through 3:00PM
Market Street from Beale to Steuart Sunday 10:00AM through Sunday 3:00PM
Steuart Street from Market to Howard Sunday 10:00AM through Sunday 3:00PM
Spear Street from Market to Howard Sunday 10:00AM through Sunday 3:00PM
Main Street from Market to Howard Sunday 10:00AM through Sunday 3:00PM
Beale Street from Market to Howard Sunday 10:00AM through Sunday 3:00PM
Market Street between Market and Folsom Sunday 10:00AM Sunday 3:00PM
Parade down Market Street to 8th Street Sunday 10:00AM Sunday 3:00PM
